ELIZABETHTOWN – Sophmore Greyson Heustess and junior Brooks McGill scored goals Saturday as East Bladen’s Eagles defeated North Brunswick in the opening round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association men’s soccer play-offs.
The Eagles improved to 15-5-1 with the victory and advanced to a second round game Tuesday at undefeated and top-seeded First Flight in Kill Devil Hills.
Saturday the Eagles struck quickly with a goal in the sixth minute. McGill came up with a loose ball and launched a 40 yard pass through a gap and over the Scorpion back line to Heustess.
“Greyson outworked and outfought a defender for the ball then banged it in from about 7 yards out,” said Eagle Coach Jay Raynor.
The Eagles continued to threaten in the early part of the first half and failed to capitalize on several opportunities off corner kicks. “We had 5 or 6 corner kicks, ran the sets well but just couldn’t get the ball in the net,” continued Coach Raynor.
“After that we hit a lull offensively, but our defense stayed nice and compact and didn’t give up anything,” stated Raynor.
The scored remained 1-0 until the final ten minutes of the game. “Greyson sent a long ball to Brooks who beat a defender and fired a shot with his left foot inside the post from a tough angle,” said Coach Raynor.
Goalie Spencer Scott was credited with 8 saves, including one from point-blank range. “Most of those came in the first half,” noted Raynor. “We played much better in the second half.”
It was the first shutout for the Eagles since the West Columbus game on September 6th. “Spencer and the backline had a great game,” said Coach Raynor. “I was happy that they could get the shutout.”
Now the Eagles have to make the 258-mile trip to Kill Devil Hills to play the top seeded Nighthawks. “It will be a different environment – very windy,” noted Raynor. “But I think we are prepared. The Clinton win proved we can play with anybody.”
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